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7. Xiu Xiu - "Isobel"

7. Xiu Xiu - "Isobel"

Xiu Xiu On "Isobel"
"It is easy, I think, to miss Björk's lyrics sometimes. Not because of any lack of shine on their part, but only because the production and orchestration on her songs is always so unique and wonderful. As much as I love the arrangement of 'Isobel,' it is the, as you might have guessed by now, the lyrics that have killed me. They are, at least as I read them, almost an inward transgendered desperate affirmation and fantasy moth love song.'When she does it she means to' is such a powerstation of 'fuck you, I am on a fit and rampage and destructive sex hyper revelation frenzy.' In it, the line says 'I know what I am doing, I know I have taken it too far, I know that I love my downward and upward spiral. BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ.'

For the music Gabrielle Athayde played about 30 minutes of improvised cello, which I edited/arranged in the computer. Ches Smith, wearing head phones, played drums along to an Okinawana folk music record. I bought a new microphone -- that is, for this song appropriately, made of wood -- and sang into it."
- Jamie Stewart

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10 Comments

this is genius.

Posted by: sam at 04/01/08 7:02 PM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down

god this freaked me out on first listen. but i'm thinking i'll be agreeing with sam soon enough.

Posted by: Chromechisel49 profile link at 04/02/08 12:08 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

this song honestly scares me. it first came on as i was entering a dark park all alone and i had to change it. i haven't gotten all the way through it yet

thanks xiu xiu, anything that scares me is worth commending

Posted by: Keaton34 profile link at 04/05/08 3:52 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

Are you crazy?
This is crap.
Poor Björk.
This Xiu Xiu should be arrested for that.

Posted by: Gabi at 04/05/08 7:52 PM | Reply
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Xiu Xiu & Gira's cover of Queen & Bowie's "Under Pressure" is cool but this one sucks big time.

Posted by: Javier Pantoja at 04/06/08 8:17 AM | Reply
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Bjòrk music yet complex, so I will think twice to make a tribute about her music and not mess it up like this, about this band talent no question, but wrong proyect selection.

Posted by: oswaldo at 04/10/08 1:38 PM | Reply
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Wow, hahahaha, this is such garbage. I can't believe it... Worse than hearing Antony Hegarty ruining songs on Volta

Posted by: Neil at 04/11/08 11:07 AM | Reply
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Why can't we all just appreciate the efforts made by Xiu Xiu and be done with it. Come on people lets be constructive with the critiscisms.

Posted by: http://www.myspace.com/themattanddanshow at 06/05/08 7:22 AM | Reply
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I need to go swab out my ears and schedule some shock-therapy.

Posted by: Ben at 04/12/09 1:31 AM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

As a fan of Xiu Xiu and not so much of fan as of Björk, this song is a complete disappointment. Loving this song is only missing the point of loving music itself.

Posted by: Sven at 04/19/09 9:36 PM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down

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